7-Day Uganda Primate and Wildlife Safari with Gorilla Trekking

Your Ibyiza Safaris guide will meet you at Entebbe International Airport or your hotel before beginning the journey northwest to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest and most celebrated wilderness.

Along the way, make a memorable stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where wild rhinos roam freely. Once hunted to extinction in the 1980s, rhinos are making a remarkable comeback through a dedicated breeding program across 7,000 hectares of protected land. Spend around two hours observing these majestic creatures up close, learning about their behaviour and the conservation efforts bringing them back from the brink.

Continue your journey through Uganda's picturesque countryside, arriving at your lodge in Murchison Falls National Park by evening, just in time for dinner and a relaxing overnight stay.

Today delivers one of Uganda's most exhilarating days in the wild.

Begin with a morning game drive across Murchison's vast northern plains, home to elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, and a remarkable diversity of birdlife.

In the afternoon, join a boat safari on the Victoria Nile, cruising upstream toward the base of Murchison Falls, the world's most powerful waterfall, where the entire force of the Nile squeezes through a narrow 7-metre gorge in a thunderous spectacle. You will have the opportunity to see animals such as crocodiles and hippos in the water. Also be on the lookout for buffaloes, waterbucks, and elephants, which are often seen on the riverbanks grazing and drinking water.

Afterwards, go for a short hike to the very top of the falls and stand at the edge of one of nature's most breathtaking sights. The views are breathtaking and perfect for photography.

After breakfast, depart Murchison and journey south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The drive takes you through Hoima, Uganda's emerging oil city, before winding into Fort Portal, Uganda's tourism capital, where the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, famously known as the Mountains of the Moon, emerge dramatically on the horizon. The lush greenery, terraced farmlands, and rolling hills that unfold around you begin to tell the story of why Sir Winston Churchill called Uganda the Pearl of Africa.

Arrive at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the evening, settle in, and enjoy a leisurely evening as the park's iconic wildlife roams the plains around you.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kalinzu Forest Reserve for an exhilarating chimpanzee trekking experience.

Your adventure begins with a briefing on the dos and don'ts of chimpanzee trekking before heading into the forest accompanied by expert rangers. Track our closest relatives as they swing through the canopy, call out across the trees, and go about their fascinating daily lives in their natural habitat. Along the way, encounter other primates, rare birds, and unique plant life that make Kalinzu a world apart.

In the afternoon, embark on a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa's finest wildlife-viewing waterways. Drift past large herds of hippos wallowing in the shallows, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, elephants and buffaloes coming down to drink, and a spectacular diversity of birdlife. Return to the lodge as the sun sets over the channel for dinner and a peaceful overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart your lodge for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest via the remote and wild Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth for a classic game drive in search of tree-climbing lions, one of nature's most remarkable spectacles.

While sightings are never guaranteed, the thrill of the search is an adventure in itself. The Ishasha plains are alive with wildlife, topi and Uganda kobs graze across the open grasslands, elephants move in the distance, and there is a rich diversity of birdlife colouring the landscape at every turn.

After the game drive, continue the journey through the dramatic hills of Kigezi, arriving at your lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by evening, ready for the extraordinary day that awaits tomorrow.

Today is the day you've been dreaming of, a face-to-face encounter with the gentle giants of Bwindi.

Your experience begins with a detailed briefing on trekking guidelines, ensuring your safety and the protection of the gorillas and their habitat. Led by an experienced guide and ranger, you'll venture deep into Bwindi's dense, ancient forest, winding through lush vegetation until that breathtaking, humbling moment when the mountain gorillas appear before you. You will spend one magical hour in their presence, a life-changing experience no photograph can fully capture.

After this experience, head back to the lodge to re-energise with a well-deserved lunch, before descending from the forest and journeying to the serene shores of Lake Bunyonyi, a tranquil highland lake cradled in the rolling green hills of Kabale. Unwind over a peaceful dinner as the calm waters mirror the last light of day. Tonight, let it all sink in.

Wake up to the soothing chorus of birdsong at Lake Bunyonyi, which means 'place of many little birds', a peaceful haven home to over 200 species and a dream for bird lovers. Take a refreshing swim or simply soak in the tranquil beauty of the lake and its 29 legendary islands, including Punishment Island, steeped in fascinating local folklore.

After your late breakfast, begin the journey back to Entebbe, making a stop at the Equator crossing near Masaka for lunch, photos, and souvenir shopping.

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport in the evening, bringing with you unforgettable memories of Uganda's wild beauty.